Friends Meyer, Carter on opposite sidelines

When Urban Meyer was a graduate assistant at Ohio State, he developed a quick bond with WR Cris Carter. Twenty years later, the two are still close friends.

They stood together two weeks ago, chatting during the second half of the Florida-OSU basketball game. Tonight, they'll stand on opposite sidelines at the BCS National Championship Game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. -- Carter cheering on the Buckeyes, Meyer coaching the Florida Gators.

In a telephone interview last week, Carter said he admired Meyer's intelligence and energy and knew he would succeed.

"The fire and intensity and how he looked at the game of football was what was different for me," Carter said of his friend. "We had a lot of the same characteristics, our approach to the game and our intensity. No nonsense in the way we go about the game."

Despite only one season around him, Meyer has said in the past that Carter --who left the Buckeyes early for the NFL -- was the best receiver he has ever been around and judges all of his wideouts against him.

Carter, who lives in South Florida, reconnected with his old buddy when Meyer got to UF.

"Since then, it's like we never left each other," Carter said. "He treats me like one of the recruits. He text-messages me all the time. Maybe he thinks I can come back for that one year at the University of Florida."

History in the making?

With a win over Ohio State, Florida would become the first Division I school to hold the football and basketball national championships at the same time, having beaten UCLA 73-57 for the hoops title in April.

More work to do

Even after five weeks of studying the other team's offense, Meyer said some of the most crucial preparation for each side's defense won't happen until after tonight's opening kickoff.

Both teams have shown the ability to play out of both spread formations and tighter, more conventional sets. Meyer said he expects both teams to lean toward four- and five wide-receiver spread lineups.

"The first two series are going to set the game plan for the rest of the day because there is really not that many different ways to play it," Meyer said. "You either decide to pack them in or spread them out."

No injuries here

Florida reported no major injuries heading into the game. For Ohio State, CB Antonio Smith will start despite a shoulder injury.